OUR MISSION

The International Veterinary Epilepsy TaskForce (IVETF) is formed by a mondial (among others Europe, United States of America, Australia) group of (veterinary) scientists interested and specialised in the field of epilepsy. Our group consists of clinical veterinary neurologists, neuropharmacologists, and veterinary neuropathologists (see also 'published work’).

In 2010 we started to work on terminology, classification, therapy, intervention, diagnostics, imaging and pathology of canine epilepsy (see als published work).

Daisuke Hasegawa

Hannes Lohi

Hannes Lohi (PhD) is a Professor in Molecular Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. He is also a group leader in the Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland. He has established an internationally recognized laboratory that focuses on canine models of human genetic disorders. His research group has established a canine biobank with >60 000 samples from 330 different breeds. This resource provides access to a multitude of different disease genetic studies the group has been successfully performing over the past 10 years. Although many disease groups are covered, the specific focus of his research involves common brain disorders such as epilepsy and anxiety. His research group has several original gene discoveries in canine symptomatic and idiopathic epilepsy (e.g. EPM2B, LGI2, ADAM23). Dr. Lohi has >120 original publications and has been awarded by several prestigious external grants including ERCStG.

Hannes Lohi

Holger A. Volk

Professor DVM, PGCAP, PhD, DipECVN, FHEA, MRCVS

Holger is the Head of Department of the Clinical Science and Services at the Royal Veterinary College, Professor of Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Past-President of the European College of Veterinary Neurology. He graduated from the Veterinary School of Hanover in 2001, where he also did a PhD in Neuropharmacology studying basic mechanisms of drug-resistant epilepsy. He then completed his specialist clinical education doing an internship and a residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at the RVC. Holger is internationally known for his work in the field of Chiari-like malformation/syringomyelia and epilepsy. Holger has been chairing the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force, which published recently seven consensus statements for canine and feline epilepsy and was a co-chair of the recent published ACVIM consensus statement about medical treatment of epilepsy. He has been a recipient of several Jim Bee educator awards, the prestigious Bourgelat Award from BSAVA and the International Canine Health Award from the Kennel Club. He has published multiple books and book chapters, >170 articles, >100 conference abstracts, and is a frequent flyer on the international conference circuit.

Wolfgang Löscher

Jacques Penderis

BVSc MVM PhD CertVR DipECVN MRCVS

RCVS and European Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Jacques is currently head of Vet Extra Neurology, providing specialist veterinary neurology referral services in Scotland. Jacques graduated from the University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort), has worked in small animal practice in the United Kingdom, before completing an internship at the Royal Veterinary College, and a Residency and Masters in Neurology at the University of Glasgow and obtained his PhD on CNS Repair from Cambridge University. The University of Glasgow awarded Jacques a personal Professorship in 2009 (Professor of Comparative Neurology), where he was also Head of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. Jacques is a Past President of the European College of Veterinary Neurology and was awarded the ECVN John Presthus prize and the 2014 BSAVA Blaine award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal medicine/surgery.

Paul Mandigers

Wolfgang Löscher

Wolfgang Löscher is Professor and Director of the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, as well as Head of the Center for Systems Neuroscience in Hannover, Germany.

He was born in Berlin, Germany, and graduated from the Free University of Berlin with a degree in Veterinary Medicine.

He pursued postgraduate training and specialization in Pharmacology, particularly Neuropharmacology, and Toxicology in Germany, Denmark, and the United States and holds board certifications in these specialties.

He has held posts in academic institutions and pharmaceutical industry and was appointed to the Department of Pharmacology in Hannover in 1987.

His research interests are in the pharmacology of the brain, including the pharmacology of antiepileptic drugs, the mechanisms of pharmacoresistance in epilepsy, and the pathophysiology of temporal lobe epilepsy with the aim to find new targets for treatment.

His many cooperations with pharmaceutical industry have fostered the development of new antiepileptic drugs such as levetiracetam and imepitoin.

He has been a founding editor of the journal Epilepsy Research and serves on the editorial board of several scientific journals.

He has over 600 refereed publications and is listed in the ISI web-list of the world’s most cited authors.

He is member of the Leopoldina, German’s National Academy of Sciences

He has obtained several awards for this research, including:

The Epilepsy Research Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Pharmacology of Antiepileptic Drugs of the International League against Epilepsy in 2001

The American Epilepsy Society’s Epilepsy Research Award for Basic Science Research in 2006

The Ambassador for Epilepsy Award of the International League against Epilepsy in 2011

And the European Epileptology Award of the International League against Epilepsy in 2014.

Karen Munana

Dr. Luisa De Risio

Head of Unit Neurology/Neurosurgery Unit

Head of Research-Clinics

Animal Health Trust

neurology.neurosurgery@aht.org.uk

After qualifying from the University of Parma, Italy, in 1996, Luisa completed an internship at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Parma University and subsequently at a referral practice in Paris. In 1998, 1999 and 2000 she worked as a visiting Resident at the Neurology Service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of North Carolina State University, USA. Luisa obtained a PhD at the University of Parma where she was appointed Lecturer, and subsequently Senior Lecturer in Neurology/Neurosurgery. In 2004 Luisa successfully passed the examination for the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN). In 2005 she joined the Neurology/Neurosurgery service of the Animal Health Trust as Senior Clinical Neurologist and since January 2007 became Head of Unit. From September 2008 to August 2010 she has been a board member of the ECVN Examination Committee and from September 2010 to September 2012 she has been appointed as Chair of the ECVN Examination Committee and member of the ECVN Executive Committee. Luisa is the leading author of a book on canine and feline epilepsy and she is a member of the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force. Luisa is Associate editor of the Veterinary neurology and neurosurgery journal. Since 1st January 2016 Luisa has been appointed as Head of Research-Clinics at the Animal Health Trust.

Akos Pakozdy

Karen Munana

karen_munana@ncsu.edu

Dr. Karen Muñana received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and attended veterinary school at the University of California at Davis. She went on to complete a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Kansas State University and a residency training program in Neurology and Neurosurgery at Colorado State University. She joined the faculty of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994, where she currently holds the rank of Professor of Neurology. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, subspecialty of Neurology. Dr. Muñana’s research interest is canine epilepsy, with a focus on evaluating the effectiveness of novel anti-seizure therapies and understanding why some dogs respond poorly to treatment. Her research frequently involves clinical trials, in which a new treatment or diagnostic tool is evaluated on epileptic dogs from the community.

Jacques Penderis

Dr. P.J.J. Mandigers

DVM, PhD, Dip ECVN, Dip RNVA - Internal Medicine

European Board Certified Specialist EBVS

Dierenarts-Specialist voor Gezelschapsdieren

Hoofd afdeling neurologie

Universiteitskliniek voor Gezelschapsdieren

Postbus 80.154

3508 TD Utrecht

Nederland

+31 30 2539411

p.j.j.mandigers@uu.nl

Dr. Paul Mandigers (graduated in 1992, specialization 1996, promotion 2005) is a veterinary specialist in neurology and internal medicine. He is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology and as such a European specialist of the EBVS. From his specialization, he had several functions (among others a research appointment, clinician and supervisor) at the Departement of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals (Utrecht University) and works, on a part time base, already for 17 years as a referral specialist at the Veterinary Specialist Centre “De Wagenrenk”. As of 2012 he is head / coordinator neurology and carries the title of clinical Associate-Professor. He has now more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and has given over 250 oral presentations at (inter)national conferences and meetings. He currently supervises three PhD projects, several other projects focussing on hereditary neurological disorders and has one resident in neurology.

Simon Platt

Michael Podell

Michael Podell, DVM, MSc, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology) is board-certified Veterinary Neurologist at MedVet Chicago, where he serves as head of the Neurology department. Dr. Podell’s commitment to education began at the University of North Carolina in 1980, where he received the first of many academic achievements, a Bachelor of Art in Biology and Psychology. Immediately following his graduation, Dr. Podell attended Tel-Aviv University, and was awarded a Masters of Science in Physiology and Pharmacology. In 1988, Dr. Podell earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tufts University. He then completed an internship in small animal medicine at The Animal Medical Center in New York City, followed by a residency in neurology at The Ohio State University.

Following his board-certification, Dr. Podell was the recipient of the Certificate of Recognition in Neurosurgical Expertise. Dr. Podell was a professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University until 2002, when he moved to Chicago to open the area’s first veterinary neurology and neurosurgery practice. Dr. Podell continues to demonstrate his passion for veterinary medicine and neurological sciences through his daily work with neurologic patients at MedVet Chicago, numerous published book chapters and articles, and his expertise in neurosurgery and epilepsy management.

Heidrun Potschka

Sofie Bhatti

Ghent University

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Small Animal Department

Salisburylaan 133

9820 Merelbeke

Belgium

Sofie Bhatti graduated at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Ghent University (Belgium) in 1998. After graduation she received an assistant position at the same Faculty and developed a special interest in neurology and endocrinology. In 2006, she successfully defended her PhD thesis in endocrinology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University, the Netherlands. In 2007, she became head of the clinical neurology department. Her duties include care for patients with neurological disorders, teaching neurology (to veterinary students, interns, residents), and neurology research, with a special emphasis on canine epilepsy and neuromodulatory treatment of canine refractory idiopathic epilepsy. A close collaboration is present with the neurology group of Prof. Paul Boon (Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Neurophysiology (LCEN), University Hospital Ghent) regarding neuromodulatory treatment of idiopathic epilepsy (e.g. vagus nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation)

Dr. Bhatti is the (co-)supervisor of several PhD students and (co-)author of more than 40 publications in international journals. She gave numerous continuing education lectures for veterinary practitioners and was invited as guest lecturer (national and international) on several occasions. Sofie Bhatti is the founder of ‘Epicentrum’.

Clare Rusbridge

Simon R. Platt

BVM&S

Dipl. ACVIM (Neurology), Dipl. ECVN

MRCVS RCVS Recognized Specialist of Veterinary Neurology

Professor of Neurology

College of Veterinary Medicine

University of Georgia

Dr. Simon Platt received his veterinary degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1992, following which he undertook an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and a 2 year period in private practice in the England. Dr. Platt completed a residency in neurology and neurosurgery in 1998 at the University of Florida and afterwards spent 2 years as an assistant professor of Neurology at the University of Georgia. In 2000, Dr. Platt returned to the UK where he was Head of the Neurology/Neurosurgery service at the Animal Health Trust until 2006, from which time he has been at the Dept. of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Georgia where is currently a Professor. Dr. Platt received the AAVC National resident of the year award in 1998, the BSAVA Blaine award for outstanding contributions to small animal medicine and surgery in 2005, the UGA Clinical Research Award in 2010 and the David Tyler Award for Innovative Teaching in 2012. Dr. Platt has authored or co-authored over 180 journal articles and 50 book chapters and is the co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology and the Manual of Small Animal Neurological Emergencies. Dr. Platt is Past-President of the ACVIM Neurology Specialty and Founder member of the South Eastern Veterinary Neurology (SEVEN) group in the USA. Currently, Simon serves as Editor in Chief of the NAVC journal Today’s Veterinary Practice.

Andrea Tipold

Clare Rusbridge

BVMS

PhD DipECVN FRCVS

RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

Dr Clare Rusbridge graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1991 and following an internship at the University of Pennsylvania and general practice in Cambridgeshire, she completed a BSAVA/Petsavers Residency and was Staff Clinician in Neurology at the Royal Veterinary College. She became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 1996 and a RCVS Specialist in 1999. In 2007 she was awarded a PhD from Utrecht University for her thesis on Chiari-like malformation & Syringomyelia. For 16 years she operated a neurology and neurosurgery referral service at the Stone Lion Veterinary Hospital in Wimbledon. In September 2013 Clare joined Fitzpatrick Referrals and the University of Surrey. Her professional interests include epilepsy, neuropathic pain, inherited diseases, and rehabilitation following spinal injury. She treats many animals with painful and/or distressing inherited disease which motivates her research aiming to find a better way of diagnosing, treating and preventing these conditions. She was awarded the J. A. Wright (a.k.a. James Herriot) Memorial Award by The Blue Cross Animal Welfare Charity in 2011 for her work with syringomyelia, in 2014 she received the FECVA award for best original paper also on syringomyelia and in 2016 she was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for meritorious contribution to knowledge. Clare is has authored or co-authored over 90 scientific articles and book chapters including being co-editor for a medical textbook on Syringomyelia published by Springer.

Holger A. Volk

Robyn G. Farquhar

BVSc - MRCVS - MACVS

GPcertSAM - PgCertEMS

Qualified from Massey University (NZ) in 1984, an intern at Sydney University for a year before starting work as a first opinion small animal practitioner in the United Kingdom. Since 1996 she has run her own practice in North London. Internal medicine and emergency care are her main areas of interest.

Ned Patterson

Edward “Ned” Patterson

D.V.M.

Ph.D.

DACVIM (SAIM)

University of Minnesota

College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Patterson is a Professor of Medicine and Genetics at the University of Minnesota where he has been on the staff and faculty for 21 years. He is board certified in small internal medicine and sees patients with medical problems and also has a once a week dog and cat seizure epilepsy clinic at the UMN Veterinary Medical Center. He teaches students in the classroom and does research in the areas of canine genetics, canine neurologic diseases, and comparative medicine. He currently or previously has been funded for canine epilepsy research from the National Institutes of Health (NINDS), AKC Canine Health Foundation, Morris Animal Foundation, GalaxoSmithKline, UCB Pharma, and NeuroVista Inc in the areas of genetics, new drug therapies, and EEG devices for seizure detection and prediction. He is an associated editor of neuropharmacology for Frontiers in Veterinary Medicine. He is also a founding member of the Canine Epilepsy Research Consortium

Miyoko Saito

Miyoko Saito

Miyoko Saito received her veterinary degree from Yamaguchi University, Japan, in 1993, and subsequently worked in a private practice for 4 years. From 1998 to 2002 she worked as a visiting research associate at the Neurology Service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of North Carolina State University, USA. She received a PhD in Veterinary Neurology in Japan in 2002. She joined the faculty of Azabu University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003, where she currently is associate professor of Neurology and a head of the Neurology service. She also serves as the councilor of the Japanese Society of Veterinary Neurology (JSVN). She is a co-editor and an author of a set of books on Veterinary Neurology in Dogs and Cats, which is published in Japan and China. Her research interests include epilepsy, congenital malformation and degenerative myelopathy. She has conducted many research projects including epileptic detecting system, epileptic surgery and studies on Zonisamide. She has given a numerous continuing education lectures and served as an invited speaker at many scientific conferences in Japan. She enjoyed her life with her beloved dog that has epilepsy.

Fiona M.K. James

Fiona M.K. James

DVM

MSc.

ACVIM (Neurology)

Assistant Professor

Neurology and Neurosurgery

Ontario Veterinary College

Fiona James holds a Master’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Western Ontario and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph. After an internship in Michigan, she returned to the OVC for her residency in Veterinary Neurology and a Doctor of Veterinary Science degree. From 2009 to 2011, she was an adjunct faculty member at OVC and a veterinary neurology specialist working at several private practices in Ontario and the U.S. She has been an Assistant Professor at the OVC since 2011. Her research interests include comparative epilepsy, electroencephalography, translational genetics of neurologic disease, and neuroimaging. Currently, she directs the Comparative Epilepsy Program with active projects aimed at improving canine electroencephalography and investigating small animal epileptic syndromes.

Veronika Stein

Veronika Stein

Dr. Patterson is a Professor of Medicine and Genetics at the University of Minnesota where he has been on the staff and faculty for 21 years. He is board certified in small internal medicine and sees patients with medical problems and also has a once a week dog and cat seizure epilepsy clinic at the UMN Veterinary Medical Center. He teaches students in the classroom and does research in the areas of canine genetics, canine neurologic diseases, and comparative medicine. He currently or previously has been funded for canine epilepsy research from the National Institutes of Health (NINDS), AKC Canine Health Foundation, Morris Animal Foundation, GalaxoSmithKline, UCB Pharma, and NeuroVista Inc in the areas of genetics, new drug therapies, and EEG devices for seizure detection and prediction. He is an associated editor of neuropharmacology for Frontiers in Veterinary Medicine. He is also a founding member of the Canine Epilepsy Research Consortium

Tarja Jokinen-Pääkkönen

Tarja Jokinen-Pääkkönen

D.V.M.

Ph.D.

DiplECVN

After graduating from the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Helsinki, Finland, in 2000, Tarja Jokinen-Pääkkönen worked in general practice and small animal practice at different places for 3 years. In 2003-2006 she obtained a residency in veterinary neurology at the University of Helsinki, Finland and Referral Neurology Hospital Aisti, Vantaa, Finland and successfully passed the examination for the Diploma of the ECVN in 2007. She then went back to university to work at the Neurology Unit at the Department for Equine and Small Animal Medicine and Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland. In March 2016 she completed her thesis about self-limited juvenile epilepsy in Lagotto Romagnolo dogs. At the moment she works as the head of the neurology unit at Department for Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. Her main research interests are canine epilepsy and inherited neurological diseases in dogs.